Clasp for garment-supporters.



No. 692,|60. vPatented 1an. 28,1902.

J. B. MAHANA `8'. HDBBINS.V

CLASP FOR GARMENT SUPPORTEHS.

(Application med Apr. 1`2, 1901.) (No Mudel.)

V fl!! i im,

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JonN n. MAHANA AND ANDREW IRVING RonBINs, or KELso,

WASHINGTON.V l

CLASP FOR GARNI ENT-SUPPORTERS.

srncrFrcAzrroN forming part of Letters `irai-.ent No. 692,160, dated January 28, 1902- Application filed April 12, 1901. Serial No. 55,521. (No model.)

To al?, whom it' may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. MAHANA and ANDREW IRVING ROBBINs, citizens of the United States, residingat Kelso, in the county of Cowlitz and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Garment-Supporters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the numerals of reference marked thereon.

Our invention relates to improvements in clasps' for garment-supporters, and is characterized by an arrangement of prongs which are adapted to pierce the cloth and support the garment and is also characterized by peculiar means for engaging and disengaging the prongs.

The clasp forming the subject-matter of this invention is preferably made of sheet metal, in two parts'a looped main port-ion arranged to straddle the upper edge of the garment and having a supporting-eye or but ton and a hinged plate, with prongs which may be caused to pierce the garment and thus support it. The prong-carrying plate is hinged to the main portion, and the two are so arranged that the prongs may be caused to pierce the cloth or be removed therefrom, as may be desired. 'Ihe clasp is attached to the supporter either by a loop or button, as either a permanent or temporary fastening is desired.

In order to better describe the nature of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a View of a pair of braces, showing our clasp applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clasp. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same as applied to the garment and showing the prongs in the positions they will occupy when engaged and when disengaged. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the parts separated. Fig. 5 is a front View of the clasp modified by the addition of a button.

In all the views like parts are designated by the same figures of reference.

The body of the clasp is made of 'a metal plate forming a front l and a back 2. The

the reference-numeral l() and carries the two prongs ll ll, arranged atan angle, as shown. The latter is best formed as a staple of wire and enters. two holes punched through the plate 10, the part l2 of the staple being soldered onto the plate. An inturned finger 13 is formed upon the lower edge of the plate and engages behind the free end of the spring 8. This finger is pointed, as shown, for the purpose of engaging with the fabric, andthus assisting the action of theY prongs l1 ll. A thumb-piece 14 is formed integral with the upper edge of the plate.

The parts, as shown in Fig. 4, are assembled and occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 by either forming the bend in the upset ends 9 9 after the plates are assembled and in place or by bendin g the finger 13 upward after they are in place. The plate lO i's provided with legs l5 to support the parts in the relative position shown. The plate 10 is held in position either against the face l, as shown by full lines, or away from the same, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, by the resilient action of the spring 8. It will be seen that the inturned finger 13 is to one side of the pivoted point 9 of the plate 10. It follows, therefore, that as the plate is moved outward to the position shown in broken lines of Fig. 3 the tinger 13 must first rise and compress the spring by the elevation of its free extremity. The

spring will continue to be compressed until the plate reaches the medial position, when the nger will be lowered, allowing the spring to expand, th us retaining the plate in its new position.

In use the clasp is applied by being slipped over the upperedge of the garment, the front 1 and back 2 straddling the same, with the prong-plate in the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 3. The prongs are then caused to pierce the garment, pressurebeing applied IOO to the plate 10, and are held in place by the joint action of the spring 8 and the engagement of the finger 13 with the garment. The supporting action of the prongs is assisted to a great extent by the angle at which the prongs enter the garment. The clasp is disengaged by moving the prong-plate away from the face-plate. This action is facilifated by the thumb-piece 14. When the clasp is permanently attached to the supporter by the eye 4, it must be removed from the garment with the supporter. Then the modification with the button 5 is used, the supporter is applied and serves as a permanent button on the garment. The clasp may be left in place and the braces engaged or disengaged in the usual manner.

Having nonT ascertained and described our invention and in what manner it is to be applied, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A garment-supporting clasp, consisting of a back plate and a front plate, With a plate 10, hinged to the free extremity of the front plate and carrying prongs, substantially as set forth.

2. A garment-supporting clasp consisting of a back plate and a front plate, with a plate 10, hinged to the free extremity of the front plate and carrying angularly-set prongs, substantially as set forth.

3. A garment-supporting' clasp consisting of a back plate and a front plate, with a plate 10, hinged to the free extremity of the front plate,and carrying prongs Which Work through the front plate, substantially as set forth.

4. A garment-supporting clasp consisting of a back plate and a front plate with a plate 10,`hinged to the free extremity of the front plate and carrying angularly-set prongs which Work through the front plate, substantially as set forth.

5. A garment-supporting clasp consisting.r of a back plate 2, and a front plate 1, slitted to form legs 7, 7, and an intermediate spring 8, and a plate 10, supported upon the legs 7, 7, and carrying the prongs 11, 11, and the finger 13, engaging with the spring 8, substantially as set forth.

6. A garment-supporting clasp consisting of a back plate 2, and a front plate 1, slitted to form legs 7, 7, and an intermediate spring 8, and a plate 10, supported upon the legs 7, 7, and carrying angularly-set prongs 11, 11, and the finger 13 engaging with the spring S, substantially as set forth.

7. A garment-supporting clasp consisting of a back plate 2, a front plate 1, with slits 6, 6, forming legs 7, 7, and an intermediate spring S, and a plate 10, supported upon the legs 7, 7, and carrying prongs 11, 11, which Work through the slits (5, 6, the plate 10, having also a finger 13 which engages with the spring 8, substantially as set forth.

8. A garment-supporting clasp consisting of a back plate 2 and a front plate 1, with slits 6, 6, forming legs 7, 7, and an intermediate spring 8, and a plate 10, supported upon thelegs 7, 7, and carrying angularly-setprongs 11, 11, which Work through the slits 6, G, the plate 10, having also a finger 13 which engages with the spring S, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We hereunto set our hands.

JOHN B. MAHANA. ANDREW IRVING ROBBINS. Witnesses: W. P. ELY, P. C. KIBBE. 

